A telephone mes- sage from the Kentish Knock Light Vessel, in the early morning of the 7th April, reported the stranding of the schooner Notre Dame de Toutes Aides, of Nantes, on the sands. The Margate Life-boat attempted to launch, but the heavy sea so damaged her that she was unable to proceed. The information was then passed on to Harwich, and the steam Life-boat City of Glasgow was promptly dispatched to the assistance of those on board. In the meanwhile an attempt had been made by some of the men of H.M.S. Dreadnought, which was in the neighbourhood, to effect a rescue. A cutter was lowered, but after some time the sailors had to abandon their efforts'. When the Life- boat arrived alongside the seas were so heavy that it was impossible to make fast. Two attempts were made, but the rope snapped. The Coxswain then steamed " head on" to the vessel, bringing the Life-boat as close as he dared, and thus enabled the crew to jump from the schooner. This manoeuvre had to be repeated five different times before the survivors of the crew, nine in number, were safely on board the Life-boat. They were all in a very exhausted condition, and had the rescue not been effected when it was, they would in all probability have perished.

One man had been washed overboard quite early in the morning, and another, who tried to leave the schooner in the ship's boat, was drowned. As soon as the Life-boat was safely clear of the wreck, the rescued men were supplied with biscuits and hot coffee, and every- thing possible done for their comfort.

The Ramsgate Life-boat, in tow of a tug, was also sent to the wreck, but the men had been saved before her arrival. The service of the Harwich boat was a good one and splendidly performed, dogged determination play- ing a conspicuous part in it.

Harwich was reached at 4.10 P.M., and the ship - wrecked men were landed.

The Committee of Management, in appreciation of the arduous nature of this service and the good work done, granted each of the crew and the engine-room staff an additional reward, and the captain of the vessel, in writing to the Press to express his gratitude for the gallant attempts made by the men of the Dreadnought, and the courageous action of the Life-boatmen, said : " I also thank the men of the Life-boat City of Glasgow, of Harwich, who, at the risk of a thousand dangers, did not shrink or hesitate in face of the perils before them. Ten times they came to us and were repulsed by the force of the waves, which were really waves of sand saturated with water. When once on board, our saviours gave us every possible care, going so far as to divest themselves of their own clothes to cover us. I have also heard of, and I thank, the crew of the Ramsgate Life-boat accordingly, for their long struggle of twelve or fourteen hours on our behalf, and I appreciate that they safely returned to port. I am looking forward, on my return to France, to tell my compatriots how again has been proved the great courage and self-sacrifice of the English sailors when engaged in trying to save life." In the August following, the Inter- national Conference on Life-Saving held at St. Nazaire and Nantes con- ferred diplomas upon the Coxswains, Crew and Engineers and each diploma was accompanied by the silver medal of the Society of the Hospitaliers Sauveteurs Bretons.

The awards were forwarded to the British Government delegate, who transmitted them to the Institution for presentation..